Laying the foundation for an active future

Many park and recreation agencies directly manage or work with in-town, non-travel leagues that help reduce the costs associated with youth sports and promote participation among all youth. In-town leagues allow more kids to participate in sports while leaving room for other activities children may enjoy. Sixty-seven percent of survey respondents agree that their agencies are managing or working with in-town leagues.

Laying the foundation for an active future

By participating in sports, children can gain a foundation for physical and mental well-being that endures into and throughout their adult years, with proven benefits in work-life, relationships and health. Ninety-four percent of park and recreation professionals agree that their agency tailors its youth sports programming to different age groups, emphasizing the importance of sports in supporting physical literacy and development. An example is sports opportunities for young children that focus on fine motor skills while developing sports-specific skills for these children as they become older.

Youth sports also support socioemotional development. Sports provide youth with opportunities to create friendships, build social skills and learn how to negotiate. Each one of these skills benefits children and teenagers in everyday situations outside of sports. Virtually all survey respondents (98 percent) concur that their agencies’ youth sports programming emphasizes positive communication, teamwork, respect and leadership.

A child swings a bat during T-ball at Veterans’ Memorial Pratte Field in Boulder City, Nevada.

Park and Recreation Youth Sports Activities Are an Investment in the Future (Percent of Respondents Rating a “4” or “5” on a Five-Point Scale for Their Level of Agreement with Statements on Their Agencies’ Youth Sports Offerings)

Emphasizes positive communication, teamwork, respect, leadership in our youth sports activities

Tailors youth sports activities to different age groups per their developmental levels

Emphasizes physical health, including nutrition, hydration, injury prevention

Provides training to our coaches on communicating with youth participants and modeling behavior

Provides training and support to our coaches on concussion prevention and related health risks

Requires sports leagues using our facilities to provide training to their new coaches

Provides anti-bias training and conflict resolution support to our coaches

n 5 n 4 Rating

54%

48% 76%

76%

70% 98%

94%

Park and recreation professionals design their agencies’ youth sports programming to emphasize health and wellness. For example, three out of four park and recreation professionals agree that their agencies’ youth sports programs emphasize physical health, including nutrition, hydration and injury prevention. The remaining share of respondents’ views may signal an opportunity for more agencies to ensure that youth sports programming focuses on an individual’s ability to have an active and healthy life beyond youth sports.

While agencies tailor their youth sports activities to the developmental needs of children, the level of investment agencies make in training coaches is mixed. For instance, three out of four park and recreation professionals agree that their agencies provide training for coaches in communicating with youth participants and modeling positive behavior. Similarly, 70 percent of survey respondents concur that their agencies provide training and support for coaches in the prevention of concussions and related health risks. In contrast, less than half of survey respondents agree that their agencies provide anti-bias training and conflict resolution support for coaches, while slightly more than half concur that the sports leagues using park and recreation facilities provide sufficient training for their coaches.

70 percent of survey respondents concur that their agencies provide training and support for coaches in the prevention of concussions and related health risks

All ages and abilities joined the U.S. Paralympians Josh Pauls and Steve Cash, as well as members of DASA Blues sled hockey team for a free sled hockey event at Brentwood Ice Rink in Brentwood, Missouri.